The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has welcomed Washington Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland as its new secretary for the 119th Congress.
Strickland made history two years ago as the first representative from Washington state and the Pacific Northwest to serve on the CBC Executive Committee.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Strickland is a trailblazer as the first African-American to represent Washington state at the federal level and one of the first Korean-American women ever elected to Congress.
“I am honored and grateful to my CBC colleagues for their trust and support,” Strickland said. “I look forward to leveraging our power to achieve our goals in the 119th Congress.”
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), often referred to as the “conscience of the Congress,” has long championed policies that uplift African Americans and other marginalized communities.
Now a 62-member body, the CBC’s leadership includes Secretary Marilyn Strickland, Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York, First Vice Chair Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana, Second Vice Chair Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, and Whip Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California.
For over 50 years, the CBC has fostered bipartisan collaboration, welcoming both Democratic and Republican members. As founding member Rep. William L. Clay, Sr. famously stated, “Black people have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests.”
The CBC is well-represented at the highest levels of Congress. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York serves as Leader of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina is the Assistant Democratic Leader, and Rep. Barbara Lee of California co-chairs the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
About the CBC, according to its website:
Since its establishment in 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has been committed to using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. The Caucus is Chaired by Congressman Steven Horsford. As part of this commitment, the CBC has fought for the past 50 years to empower these citizens and address their legislative concerns by pursuing a policy agenda that includes but is not limited to the following:
• reforming the criminal justice system and eliminating barriers to reentry;
• combatting voter suppression;
• expanding access to world-class education from pre-k through post-secondary level;
• expanding access to quality, affordable health care and eliminating racial health disparities;
• expanding access to 21st century technologies, including broadband;
• strengthening protections for workers and expanding access to full, fairly-compensated employment;
• expanding access to capital, contracts, and counseling for minority-owned businesses; and
• promoting U.S. foreign policy initiatives in Africa and other countries that are consistent with the fundamental right of human dignity.
